A/N my thoughts on episode 5.3 Foreign Affairs. No beta, all mistakes are mine.

Gus rinsed the last plate before handing it off to Sharon. She carefully re-arranged the plates in the dishwasher one last time before closing the door and pressing the start button. "I really didn't expect you to help clean up after you cooked such a wonderful meal for us," She smiled at Gus.

"I don't mind, you and I both know he is going to be glued to that computer for the rest of the night. It's getting late." Gus glanced at his watch, "I probably should get going anyway."

Sharon tilted her head in thought, "If you will give me just a few minutes, I don't mind giving you a ride home."

"No Sharon…I couldn't ask you to do that," Gus started. "I don't want to be any trouble."

Sharon stepped across the kitchen to pause just behind the couch. "Gus, it's no trouble. Besides," she added with a shrug, "it's on my way." Gus nodded with a knowing smile as he watched her disappear down the hall.

~~~~~~SA~~~~~~

They rode in companionable silence for several miles, the radio playing softly in the background. Gus shifted in seat, his eyes drifting over to look at her in the dark car. "Can I ask you a question?" She hummed softly, he smiled at the gentle noise. He had come to realize that she does that a lot.

"Gus, you can ask me anything. You know that." Her eyes never left the road, but he knew she was waiting for him to continue.

He paused, choosing his words wisely, "What if…Rusty doesn't change his mind about this baby? What if he never gets to know his little brother or little sister? Ten or even twenty years from now I don't want him to regret a decision he made out of anger."

Sharon sighed deeply, "Hmm," There it was again, Gus thought with a soft smile. "I think we just have to give Rusty some time to…" She weighed her words carefully, "You have to remember there's a lot of history in play here. Not only is he having to deal with the fact that his mother is having another child, that in its self is enough for him to have to process, but then you add the element of the baby's father being Gary. The one person his mother chose over her own son, time and time again."

Gus let her words sink in, "I hadn't thought about it in that way."

"I'm not saying that Rusty is right, but I can't say that he is wrong either. We haven't walked in his shoes." Her voice took on a softer tone as she continued, "You didn't have the chance to know that scared young man who slept on my couch for months because he didn't want to let himself get too comfortable. Rusty has come a very long way in what is relatively a short period of time. It took a while for Rusty to trust that the fact that I would never abandon him the way his mother did. Just like it has taken him time to trust you."

"I'm still not sure he fully trusts me." Gus sighed.

"He trusts you more than he is probably capable of showing right now, but I know…he does trust you, Gus. He really does."

They rode in silence for several more miles. "Does it bother you that Andy agrees with Rusty's thoughts concerning this baby?" Gus finally asked.

For the first time since they left the condo, Sharon glanced quickly at Gus. "I'm not sure I understand…"

"Rusty said that Andy is on his side, that he agrees that the baby should be put up for adoption. That Sharon doesn't deserve a do over."

Gus smiled to himself as another hum escaped her. "If Rusty thinks that Andy is on his side, as you put it; then, no, that would not bother me. But you have to remember that Andy's point of view in this certain situation is solely based on trying to protect Rusty and in turn protect me. Does Andy actually agree one hundred percent with Rusty, no…probably not. But, I am glad that he trusts Andy enough to talk with him about this. Those two have come a long way as well."

Sharon turned into the apartment complex, coming to a stop in front of Gus's building. Gus shifted in his seat, unfastening his seatbelt. "Thanks again for the ride and the talk. It put somethings into better perspective for me." Sharon smiled, nodded her head slightly. "Tell Andy hello for me."

"Goodnight Gus." Sharon placed a soft hand on his shoulder just before he stepped from the car. She waited until he was up the stairs, disappearing around the corner before she continued on her way.

~~~~~~SA~~~~~

It was well after midnight by the time Sharon parked her car behind Andy's. With a tired sigh, she reached into the back seat for her bag before making her way down the walkway to his porch. Her time alone in the car after dropping off Gus had not been what she thought it would be. She let her mind drift into dangerous territories, now finding herself feeling a bit melancholy. She couldn't wait to snuggle in behind Andy's warm body. Just the thought of letting his scent engulf her, made her feel better. She quietly slid her key into the lock, careful not to make much noise. It had been weeks since she had set foot in Andy's house so when she stubbed her foot on a stack of boxes just inside the doorway, she instantly covered her mouth to stifle her groan. She slowly closed the door, her eyes becoming more adjusted to the dark entry hall. Dropping her bag beside the boxes she continued through the entry hall into Andy's living room. Even though the room was relatively dark, she knew instantly it was almost barren. She ran her hand across another stack of boxes just behind the couch. Her heart quickened as she moved further into the kitchen. She flipped on the single light above the sink, it's soft glow engulfing the small space. Boxes littered the counter top, some almost full, other's empty. She turned slowly, taking everything in. Her hand moved to cover her mouth, all thoughts of joining Andy in bed forgotten for the moment. She walked slowly back into living room, sitting heavily in Andy's brown leather recliner. She slipped her boots off, leaving them beside his chair. Hugging her knees to her chest, she relaxed into the soft cushions. Her eyes slipping closed, as she leaned her head back.

Her mind moved ninety to nothing as she began to replay conversations from the last few weeks over and over in her head. Yes, they had discussed moving in together. Yes, they had discussed Andy selling his house. Yes, she agreed that she was open to the idea. But she had to admit that seeing his house all packed up like this, shook her to her core. She opened her eyes looking around once again, the hot tears that began to fall did nothing more than infuriate her. Slipping her glasses off, she wiped angrily at her eyes. It wasn't that she was angry at Andy, not really, she knew deep down he meant well. The truth being, she was angry at herself for feeling somehow betrayed by the fact that he didn't tell her that he had begun packing his things. Her first instinct was to run, just get her bag and leave, after all he didn't even know she was coming. The idea of surprising him tonight had come to her while she and Gus loaded the dishwasher. But running just wasn't in her DNA, she had been run from enough in her life to know that no matter how bad she wanted to, it just simply wasn't the right thing to do.

She closed her eyes again, hoping to keep the tears at bay. She loved Andy, she has loved him for some time now, that wasn't the problem. In fact, if she was totally honest with herself, what she felt for him ran so deep that at times it petrified her. It was those thoughts that got her in trouble on the drive over. Now, sitting here alone in his recliner, faced with box after box of Andy's life being packed away for her, solely because he loves her and wants to spend the rest of his life with her. It was overwhelming; her breath caught in her throat, her heart raced as she let those truths take hold in her mind. She did not need a man in her life, she did not need someone to love her, she did not need anyone to take care of her, her life was good just as it was. She has an amazing family, the job she always dreamed of and yet, she let her heart be captured by her best friend. The only person besides her kids that she could be one hundred percent herself with. The one person she truly wanted in her life, yes she did not need him but she wanted him there beside her. For what other reason would she drive for almost an hour in the middle of the night just to feel the peace of sleeping curled next to him. She wanted everything he wanted, she had said that before. But it was these boxes that made her really believe what her heart had been telling her all along.

She stood slowly, leaving her glasses on the arm of his recliner, she padded down the hall pulling at her clothes as she went. His bedroom door was open, she could hear his soft sounds of sleep even before she moved past his doorway. The room was dark, but she knew her way around. She dropped her clothes on to the wingback chair in the corner. Andy lay on his back, the covers kicked to the foot as was his usual. Grabbing the corner of the sheet, she crawled onto the bed pulling it with her as she snuggled against him. He shifted slightly, his arm moving to tuck her against him. His eyes never opened, "This is a nice surprise," he mumbled as he buried his nose in her hair. "I…packed a few things…"

She chuckled despite herself, her hand moving to the center of his chest, the beat of his heart strong beneath her fingertips. "I noticed. You should have said something; I could have helped."

His hand gently squeezed her hip, "There's always tomorrow, sweetheart," his deep voice drifted through the dark night.

"Yes," She whispered, her eyes sliding closed, "tomorrow."